Rob Frank's Blog

Youth Ministry! My Thoughts!

rob frank — Wed, 30 Nov 2011 00:33:40 +0000

Youth ministry used to be about forming relationships with teens so that they would come to your programs. Today, programs are not the end goal. Instead, programs serve as open doors for building relationships. As we move forward with our youth program at the Church, I realize how important it is to meet the young people’s needs and extend lots of different programs to build positive relationships through the good, bad and the ugly. It is my goal to provide Church teaching and fellowship along with programs that serve the needs of their energy filled lives. So with that said we have Youth Group on Wednesday night’s promising: bible lessons, games, team building along with fellowship time. The gym is open daily for young people to come in and to experience a structured work out; as one in six American teens are overweight or in poor physical condition according to National polls. The goal is while I am off work this winter to offer the gym in the morning and after school along with an after school tutoring program. In addition, we offer worship in the morning and evening on Sunday. Every generation of people learn and respond differently to worship. This is the reason why we offer a traditional worship format on Sunday morning and a contemporary worship service on Sunday evening called The Bridge service. This service has worship music with scripture and sermons to meet the congregation at the bridge of their life during current times. In addition, in January we will offer a youth Sunday School class at9:00 am that will prepare the youth with current events teaching from the bible. It is my job as your Youth Pastor to serve, serve and serve some more. Please continue to pray for me, the youth and our programs. It is important that they are pleasing to God. It is our goal to reach out and serve in a way that will promote changed lives and strong relationships.

1 Peter 5: 2-3

Be shepherds of God’s flock that is under your care, serving as overseers-not because you must, but because you are willing, as God wants you to be; not greedy for money, but eager to serve; not lording it over those entrusted to you, but being examples to the flock.

Rob Frank

This is how we open service on Sunday Evening!

rob frank — Mon, 07 Nov 2011 15:49:27 +0000

This is how we open service every Sunday Evening and I love it. We strive not to judge but serve. It seems when our minds are on Christ and not on what others are doing or did the service, serves it purpose better. Worship and Fellowship seem more heart felt and real. Hope you enjoy our welcome statement.

We come from many different paths to gather here,
For wide is God’s welcome, and you are welcome here:

If you are young or old, you are welcome
If you have brown skin, black skin, white skin, yellow skin, or red skin, you are welcome
If you are married or single, you are welcome
If you are sick or well, you are welcome
If you are gay or straight, you are welcome
If you cannot hear or see, you are welcome
If you are a man or woman, you are welcome
If you are happy or sad, you are welcome
If you are rich or poor, powerful or weak, you are welcome
If you believe in God some of the time or none of the time or all of the time, you are welcome…

Please Help Me!

rob frank — Wed, 02 Nov 2011 14:56:09 +0000

We are starting a new Contemporary Worship service as an outreach. This service will be very laid back, lots of music with a band, active sermons to make the message stick, with communion every week. In addition, this service will be held on Sunday at 6pm. That allows Sunday morning working people to attend.

We have narrowed the name of the service down to a handful. Please vote for the one you like best based on the information I have gave you.

1. The Bridge 2. The Gathering 3. The Connection 4. The Foundation

5. The Fountain 6. Alive 7. Connect 8. Energy 9. Family of Faith

10. Fresh Start 11. Higher Ground 12. New Growth 13. New Life

14. Solid Ground 15. Solid Rock 16. Spark 17. Together 18. Wellspring

Your input is very important to me? Please Vote today! Service starts on Sunday!

First Sunday doing the sermon.

rob frank — Sun, 16 Oct 2011 14:03:10 +0000

Things to Consider for a Minute!

rob frank — Tue, 16 Aug 2011 12:56:32 +0000

New Video Blog coming. Start your day with some good news or a great thought each day. Good news each day to start your day. Look for it soon!

Temptation to feel Normal. Drugs and Alcohol the answer?

rob frank — Sat, 05 Mar 2011 17:29:41 +0000

It always amazes me to see a concert come together. There is so much work to be done, and people do not realize how much time it really takes. The key to being successful in the entertainment business is attention to details and a drive to be the best you can be. At times, to remain on top you must be better then everyone in the business. Instead of”keeping up with the Jones’” it is more like being better then the Jones’. There is quite a lot of pressure and stress to be bigger, better, and more over the top then everyone else on the last tour.
The artist’s day is not as easy as everyone thinks. Typically, artists arrive on tour busses to the festival site early morning. Most people assume they sound check, party, sing, and party some more, though it is all a facade. Their day starts early, putting their look together, along with hair and makeup, and generally they do not pick out how they are going to dress. Then they go to a trailer, booth, or radio station and do radio bumpers (station commercials) for the station or an “on air” interview. Then they may do a few phone interviews for an upcoming show where they call into a radio station a few days prior promote the event. After they are finished with the radio promotions, then they may move on to a television portion for GAC, CMT, MTV, VH1, along with all the local media. Then there comes the sound check, meet and greets along with anything else that may help to build the reputation and image of their career. Basically, the day starts at 6:00 am or before and ends around 1:00 am, and most celebrities cannot go to bed after doing a 75 minute show. In addition, it takes time to load in and get the busses rolling.
We had done a show at Country Thunder in Twin Lakes, WI which about 20,000 people attend each day. This show has your biggest stars. I had some spare time on my hands, so I was doing a little “weirdo watching.” Things are crazy backstage, and I was taking it all in. I used to get mad at the drugs and all the alcohol. Then I realized what is demanded of these highly successful people. I can only imagine they want to feel normal. You think about the drugs, but really who wants to be tired and dragging all the time. You have a staff a people traveling with you; however you long to be with your family. Along with the success, you carry around a tremendous amount of guilt for being gone all the time from your family. You are lonely, even when you have an entourage to take care of you. How do you put on that happy go lucky face and act as if your life is perfect 100 percent of the time? At least if I am in a bad mood I can show it and people know it. If an artist does that, it haunts them.
Stars become dependent on drugs and alcohol for many different reasons. I often think about a signature name producer and what he told me when I got into the entertainment business. “Rob, if you’re going to work in this business you have to learn to look the other way. The majority of the people in this industry abuse alcohol or drugs and a lot of them do both.” I took a vow that day not to ever go down that road, and although I may have a glass of wine now and then, I have never become a user of drugs and alcohol during the production of a show. However, at times when I was tired and vulnerable I was offered it and thought about it, but through the power of God I never acted upon it. I always had an escape plan so I would never go down that road.

Oval Office experience I will never forget!

rob frank — Wed, 02 Mar 2011 16:38:29 +0000

It was toward the end of January and our nation’s president was Bill Clinton. I was invited by the president’s staff and Secret Service to come and visit the West Wing of the White House. This was such an honor as the only people that have the chance of visiting the West Wing are the president’s staff, family, and friends. This area of the White House is very private and never part of a general tour.
In preparation for my visit, I had to begin the security process 60 days prior to my arrival. Finally, I was ready to depart for Washington and I would stay at the Hotel Washington across from the White House. My instructions I had when I arrived at the hotel were to call the Duty Director of Presidential Transportation. After contacting the department, a phone call was returned by Secret Service on the details of my initial tour that would take place at 8:00pm that night. At 7:30, a three -car hopper (small motorcade) was sent to take me over to the security shack at the White House. I remember how friendly all of the staff was but also their professionalism. As I proceeded to check in with Secret Service, I remember spilling my whole wallet of credit cards everywhere because I was so nervous.
My initial reaction when we got over to the West Wing was one of shock. The media was camped out for a story as the president was in the midst of a scandal involving an intern. The media was so thick on the east lawn that grass had been worn down to dirt. You could tell the media staging area had been through the mill in the previous months. Secret Service made the remark as we entered the White House that the press was from around the world covering the headlines. As one man opened the door, he told me that in most areas of the West Wing I could not use photography tough he would let me know where I could take pictures.
As soon as I entered the doors of the West Wing, I was greeted and welcomed to the White House on behalf of the president and first lady. Soon after I started my tour, my friend, a Secret Service man, started joking about the scandal and asked if I wanted to see the infamous pantry. I was shocked at how open everyone was about the current events. Several Secret Service men felt at the time it was not their responsibility to babysit the president, but to protect the president. We came to a communications area that laid out the blueprint of where the president, first lady, and Chelsea were. Someone had noted the location of Chelsea was at her dorm at school, but still protected by Secret Service. I remember how odd it would be for a college student never to be without Secret Service and what it must be like to go on a date.
Once we got to the Oval Office, I saw where the president would be sitting the next day when we met for the first time. I saw how the seats were positioned next to his desk to have a private conversation. Then my eye went to the family portrait of President Clinton, Hillary, and Chelsea and I realized at that moment that this was a real family going through a real tragedy. They had feelings just like I have feelings. Then I looked at what seemed to be a senior portrait of Chelsea. How was she affected by all of this? What was her life like? That night my heart was heavy for their family. I remember thinking of how embarrassing the situation had been for them. I often wondered if they would pull through and make it passed this difficult time. If the president has an affair and the whole world finds out, why would other politicians even try? Are women attracted to power so much they would jeopardize a family? Can you be in leadership without falling off the deep end? Is our human nature to destroy ourselves when we become successful?

Rob & MiMi 2010 Promo

Take a look behind the Scene. What makes Celebs tick?

rob frank — Tue, 01 Mar 2011 19:39:13 +0000

We often read about celebrities and the extraordinary demands they make when they perform or on the set of their big screen films. Although I have never seen demanded only green M&M’s or butterscotch candies without wrappers, I have seen some outrageous and odd things in the artist riders I have worked on. An artist rider is a stack of documents that reveal the demands an artist and their entourage need. This includes the stage, lights, sound equipment, payment, and yes, the items for the busses and dressing rooms. Most of the items are very basic like a case of bottled water, bags of ice, certain kind of juice or pop, or some pretty basic snacks. However, as you continue reading you will find twelve pack of Bud Light (bottles no plastic), imported beers (two case minimum no domestic), carton of Marlboro light (hard pack), two bottles of wine (no white only dark red), and the list goes on and on. One artist may have a list of sixty or more items for them personally, plus the band and crew. We have had liquor bills that have run over $800.00 for one artist, band, and crew. Here is the catcher, that is required at every venue. Every night each show producer/director gets the same artist rider for that talent everywhere he or she performs. In addition, most of you bigger artists cost over $500,000 a night to perform.

Now, 500,000.00 is a substantial amount of money for one 75 minute show, and that is only for your headliner. The opening act is going to run anywhere from $50,000.00 to $200,000.00 depending on how famous they are and how many hits they have had, and they usually play 45 minutes to an hour. If you break it down for the artist they have a lot of expenses, 25% of the full amount goes to the manager, 25% goes to the agent, you have couple of tour busses rented, maybe a semi, and all your band and crew. So the celebrity only takes home maybe $100,000.00 out of a $500,000.00 check, and all of their demands are met through the artist rider. This does not include all the merchandise sold which is additional income. That is a hefty income for one night, though they do work really hard. Do we spoil them so much we set them up to fail?

Celebrities are like most bosses in the workplace; some are easy going, friendly, encouraging, humble individuals, and some are arrogant, demanding, with big egos, most times angry and my-way-or-the-highway individuals. What makes them like this? Nine times out of ten it is success and the continued pampering. It is always interesting to see a celebrity who has only had one or two number ones hits, and work together on a show. They will often do whatever it takes to help promote the show, are punctual for load-in, sound check, and are waiting at the stage fifteen minutes before they go out to perform. Have the same performer a year later after they have hit it really big, and the tables usually turn dramatically based on their success. I have seen artist make a 100% change for the worse being nothing but a prima donna.

Celebrities get a reputation for who they are and what they do, and if the manager does not come between the buyer and the celebrities to make sure there is no verbal connection or demands, buyers quit buying that talent. So many times a reputation we may not even be aware of is being created, and can set us up for success or failure. Once we achieve success, our personality, commitment, attitude, ego, and emotions will determine if we fall or if we succeed.

Private Jets, Big Shows, What would the future hold for Rob Frank!

rob frank — Fri, 25 Feb 2011 01:28:01 +0000

A couple of years ago, I was flying on a private jet to Nashville to see a show, go to dinner, and have a business meeting regarding some entertainment business. I had worked a full day at my office and headed for the airport, planning on making the trip and turning around that night to fly home. Due to the fact we were flying on a private jet, which was a part of my lifestyle, I had invited a couple of buddies, my assistant, and my girlfriend.

I was to meet a new client, and when we arrived, they had a limousine waiting for us right outside of where we had got off the plane. During that time of my career, I was working on military shows. Unfortunately, I was receiving a fair amount of descriptive death threats from all walks of life, because of the controversy of the Vietnam War, and the current war. In addition, to the business deal we were working on for the client he was trying to sell me on some bodyguards as well. A gentleman that I currently work with was with me on that trip and was amazed that my bodyguards went with me to the bathroom. At the time, this was a normal part of my life when we traveled with celebrities or anywhere that might be harmful to me. I never really gave much thought.

We had a great time in Nashville, the business meeting went very well, and soon we were in the limousine riding back to the airport were our plane awaited departure. I felt so successful as we flew back to Branson; I was having the pilots play roller coaster, a game I loved as my guests would scream. Basking in the feeling of having the world by the tail, everything at that moment seemed so right by my touch money would come pouring out of any project. What was I basing my success on? Was I successful because people sent planes for me to come see them? Was I successful because I had people who thought if Rob’s company is on board it will work? Maybe, it was due to the fact that the summer before we had an event that became a History Channel Documentary, gaining world exposure. Or perhaps it was I was fighting cancer and was still on top even with a colostomy? I just remember feeling powerful and extremely successful.

Looking back, I feel foolish! The reality was, I had a girlfriend who liked me in the hopes that I could make her a star. The business I owned had not found funding yet for a second homecoming event and I was fighting to keep the project alive. I had not been paid in over 6 months. I was always in fear someone would really follow through on one of those death threats, or that I might not survive colon cancer. My personal debt with medical bills exceeded $600,000.00.

What I needed was to get my ego in check. Women loved me because they thought I had power. I truly felt everything I had was deserved. Yes, I spent time everyday with God. I was in church every time the doors were open. I had grown a youth ministry program for the church from 3 to 25 youths attending regularly. I was running through the motions of trying to be successful yet spinning my wheels. How is it we get so out of alignment with reality? How do we get our self back on track without hitting rock bottom?

Cancer Survivor!

Life is so different after being so sick!

rob frank — Tue, 22 Feb 2011 17:38:34 +0000

Since the blog started last week on the topic of my fight with cancer, over 1,500 people have taken time to read my story and that number is very conservative. There have been several different ways that people have learned about the blog, most through email, cancer websites, Twitter, Facebook, and other social media outlets. The comments and encouragement have been overwhelming and even embarrassing. I never wanted to do the blog to draw attention to myself but to motivate others, and give hope and encouragement.

Recently, I read a book called An Uninvited Guest, and my first impression was that this was a book for women and I would not get anything out of it. Boy was I wrong! Everything written in the book I had gone through with my fight with cancer. Quickly, I remembered that cancer is not a death sentence and that I am not the only person who has fought the fight. Today, thousands of people will learn they have cancer, thousands more will start their five years of remission, and thousands more will end their five years of remission being cancer free. As I read the Scripture in the book, I was reminded how God’s Word was so important to me through the journey. When nothing else was working, I would pick up my Bible, pray, and read. After I had done for hours, somehow I would feel comfort to get through the day. I know there are all kinds of books out there to put the battle of cancer in perspective, but I have to say this book was different. I honestly wish I had the money so that every cancer patient, survivor, and caregiver could have a copy. My other wish is that I could make them read it once they have it in their hands.

I have not had a bad life I am very blessed even though parts of it have been tough. God has allowed me to do things in this life that most people only dream about. I know what it like to ride a tour bus across country, fly on a private jet with only a couple of people, and go to Kid Rock’s during a snow storm. I have eaten at the fanciest restaurants and met people who made a big impact on this nation, I have seen American idols become stars, and seen loving, all- around- good people become pre- Madonna’s. This is what I have learned, at the end of my life all the things that have been a part of me that do not increase the kingdom of God mean nothing. I can have the best of everything, but when God calls you home you have nothing. I can worry about what is going to happen or how it will all play out, but there is only so much I can change.

However, I can help people, encourage, motivate, listen, try to make a small difference in one person’s life, create a memory, and maybe spark some hope. I can’t fight the cancer battle for you, but I can share what worked for me. I am not here to sell you anything; I am here to share my story. However, if you want to be blessed daily as you travel through your cancer journey, give An Uninvited Guest a try. I just bet that you will feel the same way I do. If one person’s life has been affected by this blog then every tear that I shed writing this was worth it. If you read this blog every day, you have been a part of some healing within me.

Back Stronger then Ever!